IN THE LANE

CLARITY OUT OF CHAOS: If nothing else, the reports of season-ending chaos in the Dallas Mavericks’ front office, which included the resignation of General Manager Donnie

Nelson, actually might finally offer clarity regarding the Heat’s failed machinations with the Mavericks in relation to the Jimmy Butler sign-and-trade in the 2019 offseason. The Heat thought they had an agreement to send Goran Dragic to Dallas. The Mavericks, meanwhile, apparently thought they were getting Kelly Olynyk and Derrick Jones Jr.

Ultimately, the Heat turned to the Portland Trail Blazers and Los Angeles Clippers, unloading

Hassan Whiteside to Portland and sending a 2023 lottery-protected first-round pick to the Clippers. Those moves, plus stretching the waived contract of Ryan Anderson and sending Josh Richardson to the Philadelphia 76ers, completed the Butler deal. At the time, the miscommunication was cast as being between the Heat and Mavericks. In light of the backstories coming out of Dallas, it is possible the miscommunication could have been between the Mavericks and Mavericks.

COACHING CAROUSEL: The recent wave of coaching dismissals around the NBA did little to change the reality of the Heat’s Erik Spoelstra, having just completed his 13th season, still standing as the head coach with the league’s second-longest tenure behind the 25 seasons of the San Antonio Spurs’ Gregg Popovich. Also worth noting regarding the Heat is that the team has not had a true coaching search since hiring Kevin Loughery on June 17, 1991, as the replacement for initial Heat coach Ron Rothstein. From there, the Heat had a brief dalliance with Bob Huggins before hiring Pat Riley in 1995. But that’s been it, with everything else in house, going from Riley to then-Heat assistant Stan Van Gundy in 2003 back to Riley in 2005 and then to then-assistant Spoelstra in 2008.

THREE FOR ALL: The halfcourt Big3 summer circuit again will be flush with former Heat talent. In the wake of this past week’s draft, the league announced its 2021 rosters, which include former Heat guard Joe Johnson, as captain of the Triplets, where he will be a teammate of former Heat forward Jamario Moon; former Heat center Eddy Curry, as a draft pick of the Killer 3s; former Heat guard Gary Payton, as coach of the 3 Headed Monsters, who are captained by former Heat forward Rashard Lewis; former Heat guard

Mario Chalmers on 3s Company; Heat G League guard Jarrett Jack, as captain of Trilogy; former Heat forward Ricky Davis, as captain of Ghost Ballers; and former Heat center

Greg Oden, as captain of Aliens, whose roster includes former Heat guard Shannon Brown.

SECOND THOUGHTS: The USA Basketball entry, whose invitation was declined by the Heat’s Jimmy Butler, isn’t the only national team with players having second thoughts about international competition this summer. Among those who opted by bypass training with the Canadian national team are former Heat center Olynyk and former Heat prospect

Khem Birch, another impending free agent. Olynyk, an impending free agent, was injured while working with the Canadian national team in advance of the 2019 World Cup, less than 100 percent when he reported to Heat camp that fall. Included in the group that is working with Canada ahead of its Olympic qualifying tournament is former Heat forward Kyle

Alexander, former Heat G League prospect Mychal Mulder and former University of Florida

guard Andrew Nembhard.